When I first received the news that I was a finalist in this contest I was so honored and literally jumping up and down for joy!! Then it hit me, will I be able to step up to the next level? Do I really belong in this competition? The butterflies started then. Breathe, Kristii, Breathe!! Friday night I started by looking at all my old card files. Where do I begin and what type of embellishment do I make? My first thought was flowers. I love making floral embellishments and there are so many kinds to make. The more I thought however, the more I realized that this is a competition in which you need to stand out. Don't go for the ordinary, go for something extra ordinary! I went to bed feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure.

I must have dreamed about cards all night and just before the dawn of the day, I was envisioning a circus card made with a train full of animals. Melissa Bickford's Sweet Baby Stamps have been on my mind lately and I thought it would be fun to stamp them on foam and make my own foam embellishments. What a grand idea!!?? Well, my epiphany didn't last for long. I started making a circus tent shaped card and began to stamp the animals out on the foam. As I was stamping, I found that I just wasn't happy with the outcome and then the worst thing happened.... my poor Big Shot completely wore out and the handle broke off. I have made thousands of cuts from that poor old machine and I think it got tired from all the abuse. Now what. Breathe, Kristii, Breathe! I tried not to freak out, but I live in Montana. Finding a machine like that in town would not be easy. Luckily, however, Michael's had a Big Kick, (not as pretty as my pink Big Shot, but works just the same), and I was able to use a Joann's 40% off coupon. So it was back to the drawing board...

I came home and Googled Circus Trains just to get some inspiration and this is what I found:

The sweet little party train totally spoke to me!!! I decided that I was trying too hard and the best thing I could do at this point was to stop and stay true to my creative style! Shabby Chic or Fun and Playful, which should I choose? I went back to the card that brought me to this moment in the first place.

Then I remembered all my Little Bitty Bird Cards and Garden Variety Cards and decided Fun and Playful was the right way to go! I decided to stay with the train and animals, but add a birthday theme to the card. But, after playing with the circus animals and the foam, I wasn't feeling the love at all. I decided to fussy cut the stamps from cardstock and patterned papers and I remembered a cute little teddy bear stamp that I had in the PTI Baby Button Bits collection. I can't even tell you the relief I finally felt at that moment! My card was finally starting to come together.

I wanted to use fun colors since this was a birthday card and I decided that Crate Paper's Emma's Shoppe would be perfect! I stamped the train three times onto different papers, fussy cut, then pieced them together onto the cardstock. Then I colored the wheels with Copic Markers. I cut the top of the caboose off and placed a die cut package on top of the rail car. I outlined the package and bow with a Copic Marker to help them stand out a bit. I placed the bear behind the train so it looks like it's sitting inside. I embellished the cute little bear with a little bow and heart that added to the bear's cuteness factor and that made me happy!! For the DIY embellishments, I took an old stick pin from my stash and made a little happy birthday flag for the sentiment using PTI's Just the Ticket stamps. I had to color the top of the stick pin with a Copic Marker so it would match the card. Boy do I love Copic Markers!! To top off the embellishments on the card I cut out a little banner and tied it with yellow embroidery floss. I layered the background of the card with patterned papers and an embossed piece of cardstock. Ahhhh...finished and happy with the results at last! That was the feeling I was waiting for.

The next steps were to photograph, edit and submit my card. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to hit the send button. I had a ton of questions in my mind....is my card good enough, will everyone like it, am I sure this is what I want to send? Then I went back to that feeling I had when it all came together and I realized, I gave it my all. I poured my heart and soul into this process and I have no regrets. Send. Breathe. Sigh of Relief! Now it is all up to you!

Thank you so much for your encouragement and confidence in me!! I appreciate all of you and I want to thank you for considering my card!! No matter what happens, I will always remember the excitement of this opportunity!! I am truly blessed indeed!!!

That is so very cute. I'm so glad to see that you fussy cut a lot of it. I like that you're able to do that instead of doing all the coloring with markers or pencils. It's just so bright and cheery. Good luck in the idol contest.

Oh my gosh Kristii. Reading your blog I was getting all stressed out, excited, unsure..I don't think I could handle all that pressure! But you came through with flying colors! I think is card is just fabulous and you can tell you put so much love into it! Good Luck!

About Me

I am happily married to Ed, my husband of 31 years, mother to Bethany (Matt), Heidi and Ben. My faith and my family mean the world to me! Scrapping is my passion and I am thankful to share this hobby I love with those who are kindred spirits!